In Over My Head: Recent Episodes
Michael Bartz
Michael is on a quest to get his environmental footprint as low as humanly possible. So he built his own off-grid Tiny House. But downsizing and minimizing weren’t enough. He had to take more drastic measures, altering his lifestyle in some extreme ways, all in the name of saving the planet. But when it comes to his goal, he still feels in over his head. He doesn’t know if all the downsizing, minimizing, reducing, reusing, recycling, and sacrificing make a difference. It’s time to bring in the experts.
Join Michael as he sits down with scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and environmental experts to figure out how to effectively reduce his footprint in all aspects of life. From food and fast fashion to cars and caskets, he gets into what the worst culprits really are and how we can all make more informed choices when it comes to the impact we have on the planet.
If you have feedback or would like to be a guest on In Over My Head, please email: info@inovermyhead.com
In Over My Head will take a short break until November to allow time to work on a big upcoming season. Listen to Michael’s message for a sneak peek of what’s coming.
Michael chats with the University of Geneva’s Marlyne Sahakian about rethinking growth and the good life. They focus the conversation around the book Consumption Corridors: Living a Good Life within Sustainable Limits and discuss why setting upper and lower consumption limits is so important. Marylene explains the difference between human desires, needs and satisfiers. They touch on the normalization effect, the elusive goal of happiness, freedom, social lock-in, embracing enoughness, and the challenge of imposing constraints. Marylene also shares some of her research around citizen action labs and changing normative assumptions. Lastly, she offers advice on what you can do to have an impact.
Consumption Corridors Book
Dialogues Project
Michael chats with Alison Gu, who at the age of 24 became a Councillor for the city of Burnaby British Columbia. Alison talks about her journey into politics, and some of the important climate-related work she is doing. She also offers advice for anyone considering a political career.
Michael speaks with Steven Gonzalez about the human side of The Cloud. They cover the environmental impact of The Cloud and why it is so energy-hungry. Steven takes us on a journey to places like Printer's Row in Chicago, or Chandler, Arizona where the noise or water pollution from data centres is affecting these communities. He puts us in the shoes of the people running our data centres, and the demands it places on them. Steven eloquently describes the social and cultural aspects surrounding The Cloud and why storytelling is so important to making a positive change. Lastly, Steven offers advice on what you can do to have an impact.
In Over My Head Website
The Cloud is Material: On the Environmental Impacts of Computation and Data Storage
Michael speaks with Henrik Saetra about the role of Artificial Intelligence as it relates to the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. They discuss how AI can influence climate action, the double-edged nature of AI, Big Tech, and social inequality. Henrik touches on AI and the shifting of power, data colonialism, privacy as a public good, and AI ethics. They discuss the role of human imperfection in our digital life and abstaining from certain AI. Lastly, Henrik offers advice on what you can do to have an impact.
In Over My Head Website
AI for the Sustainable Development Goals Book
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Michael speaks with Tilman Santarius about making our world greener through digitalization. They focus on his latest book Smart Green World? Making Digitalization Work for Sustainability. Tilmanexplains the problem of add-on consumption of digitalization, rebound effects, radical digitalization and digital sufficiency. Michael and Tilman discuss the importance of getting sustainable apps out of the niche and into the mainstream. They cover decentralization, digital governance, and raising awareness of sustainable digitalization. Lastly, Tilman touches on digitalization and the good life, and what you can do to have an impact.
In Over My Head Website
Smart Green World (German)
Smart Green World (English)
Digital Reset Report
Michael speaks with Ugo Vallauri, co-founder of The Restart Project, a UK-based charity that inspires and supports people to repair their digital devices. Ugo talks about what it's like to attend one of their restart parties and the exciting growth of the organization over the last decade. They discuss the environmental impact of the smartphone, and the importance of extending the life of our devices. Lastly, Ugo highlights the Right to Repair campaign, what you can do to make your devices last longer, and how to affect a larger change.
In Over My Head Website
The Restart Project
Michael speaks with Dr. Kelly Widdicks all about video streaming and our demand for data. She explains the findings of her study looking at household data demand in the UK and discusses media-multitasking, digital sufficiency, and streaming music through YouTube. She stresses the importance of putting pressure on data providers and explains the larger impact of ICT. They discuss efficiency and consumption, rebound effects, and what you can to do have an impact.
In Over My Head Website
Streaming, Multi-Screens and YouTube: The New Unsustainable Way of Watching in The Home
The Real Climate and Transformative Impact of ICT
Michael speaks with Dr. Anne Goodchild all about making urban freight more sustainable. Dr. Goodchild describes the journey your package takes from ordering to arriving, and what items are typically moving around a city. She stresses the importance of consolidated delivery, and what might erode this. Dr. Goodchild discusses some of her sustainable pilot projects focusing on the final 50 feet, including a locker program, and e-cargo bikes. She also shares some of her findings on drone delivery research. Anne talks about ways to make online ordering more sustainable, including delivery fees and slowing our consumption. Lastly, she offers advice on what you can do to have an impact.
In Over My Head Website
The Final 50 Feet Research Program
Coming soon...Michael connects virtually with experts from around the world to talk about our digital life. He's going to try and figure out how all our clicks, comments, and constant connectivity affect the climate crisis, and what we can do about it.
One topic Michael couldn't fit into his conversations around money was the carbon footprint of money itself. So in this bonus episode, he sits down with Ravi Shankar Chaturvedi, Co-founder and Director of Research at Digital Planet to chat about the carbon footprint of cash. They discuss the life-cycle of cash, including the production, usage and end-of-life stages and how cash compares to other transactions such as cryptocurrency. They touch on the need to study the environmental impact of other types of digital payment and what you can do to make a difference.
In Over My Head Website
How Green is the Greenback?
Michael talks with ShareAction's Senior Campaigns Manager, Michael Kind, all about the power of investments to save the planet. Michael breaks down how financial institutions work, and where your money goes. He explains investments, and divestments, and makes a case for having shares in fossil fuel companies. He covers the importance of pensions, the limits of growth in the investing world, and why co-filing a resolution is the most exciting way to get involved in environmental change. Lastly, Michael offers steps for you to take action when it comes to your money having the biggest impact.
ShareAction
In Over My Head Website
Michael chats with Michael SW Lee, Director of The International Centre for Anti-Consumption Research all about anti-consumption. They cover what it means to be an anti-consumer, the anti-consumption cycle, voluntary simplification, and the relationship between environmentalism and wellbeing. Michael touches on the role of anti-consumption and marketing and the effectiveness of boycotting. Lastly, Dr. Lee gives some advice on how to consume less in your life.
International Centre for Anti-Consumption Research
In Over My Head Website
Michael chats with David Font Vivanco all about the relationship between efficiency and consumption, known as rebound effects. They discuss how this applies to our lives when it comes to money and beyond. Michael and David talk about the connection between wealth and efficiency, and the importance of reducing our footprint. They cover the impact of our money - whether we save it, invest or just make less of it. Lastly, David offers advice on how to be mindful of rebound effects and to effectively lower our environmental footprint.
In Over My Head Website
Michael talks with Anja Kollmuss all about buying carbon offsets. Anja explains what they are, and how they work. She covers challenges with offset programs such as double counting. They discuss the effectiveness of offsets for renewable energy implementation, industrial projects, and tree planting programs. Lastly, Anja illustrates the importance of personal behaviour, political, and economic change, as well as money management when addressing the climate crisis.
In Over My Head Website
Michael Talks with J.B. MacKinnon all about his new book, The Day The World Stops Shopping. They discuss what the world looks like when we slow our spending and drastically reduce our consumption - including how our products change and how we ourselves change. J.B. talks about conspicuous versus inconspicuous consumption, voluntary simplicity, and how the economy fairs in a lower-consuming world. They touch on why taking the long view matters in business, and J.B. gives advice on how you can start consuming less.
In Over My Head Website
The Day The World Stops Shopping Book
Michael chats with the Forethought Foundation's John G. Halstead, all about Effective Altruism and the impact of donating to environmental causes. John talks about one core tenant of Effective Altruism - pledging to give 10% of your income for life to charity. They discuss earning to give versus direct work. John touches on donating carefully, and the ethics of offsetting your emissions. He covers some rules of thumb when donating, tradeoffs, and doing good from an impartial point of view. Lastly, John talks about how you can get involved in Effective Altruism.
In Over My Head Website
Forethought Foundation
Founders Pledge Climate Fund
80,000 Hours
Michael talks with experts from around the world all about money, and how we can use it to address the climate crisis.
Michael chats with 18-year-old Amy Meek who with her sister Ella, co-founded Kids Against Plastic - a UK charity run by kids, for kids. They discuss what the charity is, why it got started and how you can get involved.
Kids Against Plastic
Michael gets a history lesson from Seth Klein, author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency, and learns how we can take inspiration from the Second World War to address the current climate crisis. They discuss numerous examples of how we mobilized at the individual, community and national levels during the war, and how we can support people in the current transition. They touch on parallels between the war and the pandemic. They also cover the Green New Deal, labour unions, the role of youth, and how you can get involved.
A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency
Michael talks with renowned social epidemiologist Richard Wilkinson all about how inequality affects society. Richard highlights how our spending habits and debt correlate with inequality. They cover status anxiety, the limit of economic growth and wellbeing, and the importance of our social relationships. He makes the connection to inequality and environmental involvement, and our ability to address the climate crisis. They touch on lessons from the Second World War and the health implications of inequality. Lastly, he suggests solutions to solve inequality, and how you can get involved.
Michael digs into the data on residential energy challenges with Professor Runa Das of Royal Roads University. They discuss energy poverty, including different ways to measure who is affected, why geography matters, and the role of policy support. They touch on community housing and the impact of climate change on how we use energy. Professor Das highlights gaps to address and offers advice on what you can do to help with residential energy challenges.
Michael Talks with Dr. Giulio Mattioli, from TU Dortmund all about transport poverty. They discuss car dependence in Europe and how this compares to North America. They cover the different dimensions of this issue including mobility, affordability, and accessibility. They touch on time poverty and the adverse effects of long commutes. They discuss the connection between housing affordability and transport poverty, transport externalities, pollution, and what you can do to address this problem.
Michael Talks with Dr. Tamara Krawchenko from the University of Victoria about implementing the Just transition at the community level. Professor Krawchenko offers international examples of notable communities in New Zealand, Spain, and Scotland, as well as how Canada stacks up. They touch on the urban bias, the role of social insurance programs, gaps in policy, and the importance of accountability. Lastly, Tamara offers advice on how you can get involved.
Michael talks with Helen Corbett Director of Energy Poverty at the All One Sky Foundation. They discuss what energy poverty is and who it affects. Helen shares how she got involved in this work, and some personal stories of individuals she has met. She offers tips on how you can lower your energy bill. They cover the health implications related to energy poverty, the importance of giving a voice to those who are struggling, and how individuals can get involved.
Michael talks with leading experts in Canada and beyond all about the Just transition. From housing and communities to society as a whole - they discuss how we make the transition to net-zero, fair, equitable, and better for everyone.
Michael talks with Sophie Weider, a children's author who wrote two environmental books before the age of 18! She talks about her inspiration, offers advice for aspiring young authors, and why art was the perfect way to get her environmental voice out in the world.
Sophie's Website
Students On Ice
In Over My Head Podcast Website
Michael talks with Jason Dion, the Mitigation Research Director at the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices all about the safe bets and wild cards when it comes to decarbonizing our electricity grid. They discuss the 2030 and 2050 targets, the role of wind, solar, hydro, carbon capture, geothermal, and energy storage. Jason explains smart grids and the importance of modernizing our electricity system. He also highlights countries that are leading the way on the path to net-zero. Lastly, Jason lays out what the future of clean energy looks like, and how you can do your part.
Canada's Net-Zero Future Report
Germany's Energiewende Project
Michael talks with Chris Henderson, the Executive Director of Indigenous Clean Energy about how Indigenous communities are involved in the clean energy transition. They cover Indigenous ownership of clean energy projects including, wind, solar, hydro, and biomass. Chris talks about the evolution of the involvement of Indigenous communities in clean energy. They touch on, habitat restoration, and the negative impacts of certain energy projects. Lastly, Chris makes recommendations on how you can get involved and be an advocate for change.
Indigenous Clean Energy Website
ICE Network
Ottawa Renewable Energy Cooperative
Michael talks with Professor Sarah Burch from the University of Waterloo about the human side of decarbonization. They touch on our consumption behaviours, transitioning livelihoods and careers to a low-carbon future. They discuss the role of small businesses and mobilizing the private sector. Lastly, Sarah makes a case for maintaining our values and how to look at individual versus collective behaviour change.
Michael talks with University of British Columbia Political Science Professor, Kathryn Harrison about Canadian Federalism and how the provincial and federal governments' relationship impacts climate policy. They touch on the Pan-Canadian Framework, the federal backstop, a clean electricity standard, the net-zero emissions accountability act, and how you can make more informed decisions when it comes to governments implementing energy policies.
Michael talks with University of Michigan Professor Barry Rabe all about carbon pricing. They discuss the impact it has on lowering emissions, and the many challenges to implementation. They talk about differences between Canada and The United States on this issue, including Americans' views on carbon pricing. Barry highlights successes and flops and lays out how to sustain effective policies. Lastly, they chat about the international aspect, the role of small players in leading the way, and how you can do your part.
Michael talks with Dr. Mark Zacharias from Clean Energy Canada all about the role renewable energy plays in decarbonizing the electricity grid. They discuss scaling up our power needs, grid-scale storage solutions, and the clean electricity standard. They cover negative externalities, the economic case for renewables, exporting clean energy, jobs, and future renewable technologies on the horizon. Lastly, Mark gives some tips for individuals to help in the effort to reach net-zero.
Michael talks with experts across North America about how best to decarbonize our electricity grid. They're going to generate some great ideas and empower you to take action!
In this new segment, Michael talks with everyday people who are doing amazing things when it comes to Environmentalism. These Planet Saving Superstars are here to inspire you to take action!
Get Thrifty Website
Get Thrifty Business Plan
Michael and Professor Antweiler talk about the infrastructure needed to implement sustainable transportation, as well as sources of electricity. They tackle challenges to decarbonization, technological innovations, market-driven solutions, carbon pricing, international policy, and barriers to infrastructure for charging electric cars. They discuss the role of government, utilities, grid loads, time of use pricing, and critical peak pricing. They touch on alternatives to car ownership, the social costs of driving, and how we can all get involved when it comes to getting sustainable transportation.
Michael and Dr. Miller talk about people’s travel behaviours within cities, the role of the car, public transit, urban form, connectivity, and density. They discuss the role of active transportation and the politics of urban transportation. They touch on the barriers to implementing change, and the organizational structure of urban transit. Finally, they offer strategies for citizens to get involved when it comes to making urban transportation more sustainable.
Michael talks all about rail travel with Dr. Gnanapragasam. They discuss alternatives to diesel power including hydrogen and battery power. They touch on biofuels, and how our personal actions can lower emissions.
Michael and Professor Zingg discuss the impact flight has on greenhouse gas emissions, plane design, biofuels, and other areas of emissions to focus on. They cover renewable sources of power for aviation, long vs medium-range flights, investment in R & D, airlines and green marketing, and how you can get involved in making flight more environmentally friendly.
In this episode, Michael talks to Dr. Alex Milovanoff, a researcher in the School of Environmental Engineering at the University of Toronto
about electric vehicles. They discuss their pros and cons, and how much of an environmental impact they have, and how they perform winter. They also cover hybrid vehicles, and how other solutions can contribute to lowering our emissions when it comes to transportation. They touch on the other effects of pollution from transportation, from air quality to the impact on the health system.
Michael talks with Gideon Forman, the Climate Change and Transportation Policy Analyst for the David Suzuki Foundation about how walking, rolling and biking lower our environmental impact. They cover cycling safety, infrastructure, the economic case for biking, the mental and physical benefits of active transportation, and how to get your municipality to make active transportation more accessible in your city. They also touch on the work the David Suzuki Foundation does.
Michael explores the world of transportation. He sits down with experts from across the country to discuss how to reduce our environmental impact when it comes to planes, trains, automobiles, and so much more.
Former Vice-Chair of Environment Lethbridge and Master Electrician, Bryce Allred, educates Michael about all things solar. From installation and the average cost, to why solar isn't always the answer. They talk about how southern Alberta is the sixth-best solar resource on the planet and various solar projects in the region. Lastly, Bryce touches on how he got into renewables, and why reducing consumption is the key to any renewable energy.
Michael speaks with Mandy Sandbach, President of Lethbridge Sustainable Living Association, about ways in which folks in cities can incorporate permaculture into their lives. They touch on the history and principles of permaculture. Mandy discusses permaculture in an urban setting and using simpler technologies that we can use that more sense costs, less money, use fewer resources. She shares with Michael how to create community where you live. Lastly, they touch on Lethbridge sustainable living’s programs including the fruit rescue program, and their zero-waste initiative.
Michael talks with Shannon Frank, Executive Director of the Oldman Watershed Council, about water conservation. They get into knowing the watershed that you live in and how that affects water conservation, municipal use of water versus agricultural use. Shannon educates Michael on stormwater runoff, xeriscaping, the importance of biodiversity, as well as water quality monitoring studies, resources for the public, and how everyone can do their part to protect our water.
John Chief Calf, Coordinator of Indigenous Education for Lethbridge School District 51, takes Michael on a journey to learn about Indigenous understandings of the environment. He talks about his upbringing, the inclusion of Indigenous content in the educational curriculum, and how meaningful conversations between cultures can make a difference towards climate change.
Former Minister of Environment & Parks, and former Minister Responsible for Climate Change Office, Shannon Phillips, discusses with Michael the role of government in combating climate change. They get into regulatory solutions, policy, phasing out non-renewable energy, and deployable technology. She also discusses the economic case for renewable energy and setting the climate policy, which the Obama white house adopted and brought on the lowest cost renewables in Canadian history. Lastly, Phillips offers advice on how individuals can get involved on the local level to impact climate change.
Michael chats with Executive Director of Environment Lethbridge, Kathleen Sheppard, about how downsizing affects our environmental footprint. They talk about the effectiveness of energy-efficient appliances, the unexpected benefits of going “Tiny”, and how small changes in your home can add up to a big environmental impact. They also discuss various initiatives from Environment Lethbridge including the small business energy efficiency program, seedy Saturday, and Reuse Rendezvous. Lastly, Kathleen offers advice on how to have a conversation about climate change in a productive and non-confrontational way.
Building an off-grid Tiny House, and doing everything possible to lower his environmental footprint wasn't enough for Michael to save the planet. Time to bring in the experts.